Nondies RFC coach reveals why Kabras are so tough to beat

Nondies RFC head coach Callum Oliver has shed light on why Kenya Cup defending champions Kabras RFC remain a dominant force on the rugby scene.

And it’s not just talk.

The Sugarmen’s record speaks for itself. Kabras last tasted defeat in February 2022, and have since been on an unbeaten run, clinching a hat-trick of Kenya Cup titles in the process.

Nondies will have a shot at ending this dominance when they face Kabras in the semifinals on Saturday, March 29.

The Whiteshirts earned their place in the final four after a hard-fought 38-22 playoff victory over Kenya Harlequin at the Ngong Racecourse on Saturday, 22 March.

Kenya Cup: Nondies thrash Kenya Harlequin to secure semifinal spot, Oilers through

Coach Oliver is under no illusions about the challenge ahead.

“They have not lost forever. They're so well-coached, they've got so much depth in their squad. It’s going to be a tough game,” Oliver told Mozzart Sport.

Despite acknowledging Kabras’ strength, Oliver believes Nondies have what it takes to challenge the giants.

He draws confidence from their previous meeting on February 22, when Nondies came close to an upset, narrowly losing 7-3.

“We will have our tactics. We'll have our strategy. If we can execute it for 80 minutes, then we see where we stand. You know, with Kabras, if you give them possession, if you give them territory, if you give them turnover balls, they will punish you. But that’s something we will work on come Tuesday,” he said.

Reflecting on their playoff triumph over Quins, Oliver praised his team for sticking to their game plan.

Nondies played a territorial game, limiting Quins’ attacking options and forcing them into errors. Their dominant second-half performance sealed the win.

“We did a lot of good things. We played a lot of territory, tried to put pressure on them and force mistakes, and we capitalized on our chances. We stuck to the game plan for most of it. There was a 15–20-minute period where we did not, but overall, I’m proud of the players,” Oliver remarked.

He also credited their home advantage at Ngong Racecourse as a key factor in their success.

“We just said at halftime that we know on this field, playing the way that Quins played in the second half is hard against the wind. We just needed to keep the pressure on them, making it hard for them to exit,” Oliver explained.

“We capitalized on our chances, and when you're chasing the game like we needed to in the last 20-25 minutes, that's when the opportunities came. That’s kind of our philosophy, and it worked.”

Now, the focus shifts to Kabras. Can Nondies defy the odds and end the Sugarmen’s remarkable unbeaten streak? Saturday’s showdown will have all the answers.

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